Sealed decking porch system

ABSTRACT

A decking and system that utilizes gap seals to seal spaces between flooring components. The gap seals are shaped to match the shapes of the spaces between the flooring components. As a result, when the seals are placed in the spaces, a sealed, continuous, uninterrupted decking surface is created.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/922,517 to Floyd Grady Carter filed on Apr. 9, 2007, entitled “Sealed Decking-Screened Porch System,” and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a decking or porch system having a plurality of spaced flooring beams, boards, or slabs. More specifically, the invention involves a decking or porch system utilizing gap seals to seal the spaces between the flooring components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Decking and porch systems have been used for many years. In recent years, these systems have involved more elaborate structures that add more useable space to a home. For example, decking and porch systems often create an aesthetic entryway into a home or add an additional room to a house.

In most decking and porch systems, the flooring is formed of a plurality of components, namely, boards, beams, or slabs, which are made of natural or man-made material, including wood beams, concrete, cement, plastics, vinyls, and engineered materials. In laying the floor of the decking system, it is generally accepted to leave a space between the flooring components. These spaces are beneficial for drainage purposes, and the spaces also accommodate the expansion and contraction of the beams, which typically results from temperature changes. To effectively provide for drainage and size changes, the spaces can range in size from a few centimeters to nearly an inch in some structures.

While these spaces are necessary to preserve the deck or porch, the spaces create problems and safety hazards. For example, items, such as jewelry, change, and food can fall into the spaces between the beams. Further, the heels of shoes can become lodged in the spaces, which can result in twisted ankles, falls, and other injuries. In addition, arms and fingers, especially those of small children can get stuck within-the spaces.

When a conventional decking or porch system is used to create an enclosed room, the system suffers from other deficiencies. Specifically, leaves, pinestraw, grass, and other debris may pass through the spaces between the flooring beams. In addition, the spaces between the beams of a typical porch system create openings for insects, rodents, and pests to enter the room. The spaces also allow heat to enter and exit the room.

Consequently, there is a need for a decking and porch system that mitigates the many drawbacks associated with the spaces between the flooring components of conventional decking and porch systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a decking and porch system that utilizes gap seals to seal the spaces between the flooring components. The gap seals are shaped to match the shapes of the spaces between the flooring components so that when the seals are placed in the spaces, a sealed, continuous, uninterrupted decking surface is created. As a result of the decking system of the present invention, items can no longer fall through or get caught in the spaces between the flooring components. In addition, weeds and pests cannot pass through the spaces. Further, the decking and porch system is stronger and less likely to warp when exposed to environmental effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention will be had with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a decking and porch system showing a gap seal inserted into a space between flooring beams in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is front perspective view of the decking system showing the gap seal being inserting into the space;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the decking system showing the gap seals inserted into the spaces between the flooring beams;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the decking system showing the spaces formed between the flooring beams; and

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the decking system showing the gap seals inserted into the spaces between the beams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ON THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the Figs., the decking and porch system 10 includes a plurality of flooring components 20. The flooring components 20 may be beams, boards, or slabs. Further, the flooring components 20 may be made from natural or man-made materials or any combination thereof, including wood, concrete, cement, plastics, vinyls, engineered materials, or any other suitable material.

As shown in FIG. 4, the decking system 10 also includes a plurality of spaces, slots, or gaps 30. A space 30 is formed between the flooring components 20. If the flooring components are wood beams or boards, the spaces 30 are preferably formed by precutting the ends of the components-20 into a desired shape and placing the flooring components 20 spaced distances from each other. Alternatively, if the flooring components are concrete slabs, the spaces 30 may be formed by routing or scoring the flooring components 20.

The spaces 30 preferably each have an I-shaped cross-section, as also shown in FIG. 4. However, the spaces 30 may be of any suitable shape or cross-section. The I-shaped spaces 30 include an upper portion 30 a and a lower portion 30 b. The upper and lower portions 30 a and 30 b, respectively, are generally parallel to each other, and a middle portion 30 c extends substantially perpendicularly between the upper and lower portions 30 a and 30 b, respectively. Further, ends of the upper and lower portions 30 a and 30 b may be rounded, bullnosed, beveled, squared, or any suitable shape.

In addition to the flooring components 20 and the spaces 30, the decking and porch system also includes gap seals 40. The gap seals 40 may be made from wood, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic, rubber, or any other suitable material. The gap seals 40 are preferably made from a material or combination of materials that can withstand environmental effects, such as weather and sunlight. In addition, the gap seal 40 may be of a different color or material than the flooring components 20 to give the decking and porch system 10 an interesting look.

Each gap seal 40 has a shape that the corresponds to the shapes of the spaces 30 so that the gap seals 40 fit into the spaces 30 between the flooring components 20. Accordingly, each gap seal 40 has a generally I-shaped cross-section comprising an upper portion 40 a, a lower portion 40 b, and a middle portion 40 c. The upper and lower portions 40 a and 40 b, respectively, are generally parallel to each other, and the middle portion 40 c extends substantially perpendicularly between the upper and lower portions 40 a and 40 b, respectively. Further, ends of the upper and lower portions 40 a and 40 b may be rounded, bullnosed, beveled, squared, or any suitable shape to mach the ends of the upper and lower portions 30 a and 30 b, respectively, of the spaces 30. Alternatively, the gap seals 40 may be slightly smaller than the spaces 30 to create clearances for drainage and warping when the gaps seals 40 are placed in the spaces 30.

To use the decking and porch system 10 of the present invention, the ends of the flooring components 20 are cut into a desired shape. The flooring components 20 are then positioned at spaced distances from each other to form a flooring surface. Since the flooring components 20 are spaced from each other, spaces 30 are created between the components 20, as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the flooring components 20 are placed adjacent to each other, and the slots 30 are formed by routing the flooring components 20. In another embodiment, the flooring component 20 is a unitary structure, such as wood panel or concrete slab, and the slots 30 are formed by routing or scoring the component 20.

To seal the decking system 10, gap seals 40 are placed into the slots 30 formed between the flooring components 20. The gap seals 40 are placed into the slots 30 by aligning each gap seal 40 with an end of a space 30. The gap seal 40 is then placed into the end of the space 30 and slid along the length of the space 30, as shown in FIG. 2. The gap seal 40 is then cut flush with the end of the slot 30 so that the gap seal fills the entire length of the slot 30, as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the gap seal 40 may be precut into any desired length to fill the length or a portion of the length of the slot 30, as shown in FIG. 1. If the gap seal 40 only fills a portion of the length of the slot 30, more than one gap seal 40 may be placed into the slot 30.

Once in place, the gap seals 40 seal the spaces 30. As a result of the gap seals 40, the decking and porch system 10 has a smooth, uninterrupted, continuous upper flooring surface without any gaps or spaces, as shown in FIG. 3. Further, due to the gap seals 40, the decking system 10 is stronger and less likely to warp when exposed to environmental factors, such as heat and moisture.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by all of the embodiments encompassed within the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A decking system comprising: a plurality of beams arranged to create a floor surface; at least one slot disposed between the beams of said plurality of beams; and a gap seal adapted to fit within said at least one slot.
 2. The decking system of claim 1, wherein said at least one slot includes a generally I-shaped cross-section.
 3. The decking system of claim 2, wherein said gap seal includes a generally I-shaped cross-section that corresponds to said I-shaped cross-section of said at least one slot.
 4. The decking system of claim 3, wherein said gap seal further includes edges that are shaped in the form of a shape selected from a group consisting essentially of bull-nose, round, and square.
 5. The decking system of claim 3, wherein said gap seal is a different color than said plurality of beams.
 6. A decking system comprising: at least one decking surface; at least one slot disposed within said decking surface; and a gap seal adapted to fit within said at least one.
 7. The decking system of claim 6, wherein said at least one slot includes a generally I-shaped cross-section.
 8. The decking system of claim 7, wherein said gap seal includes a generally I-shaped cross-section that corresponds to said I-shaped cross-section of said at least one slot.
 9. The decking system of claim 8, wherein said gap seal further includes edges that are shaped in the form of a shape selected from a group consisting essentially of bull-nose, round, and square.
 10. The decking system of claim 8, wherein said gap seal is a different color than said at least one decking surface.
 11. A method of making a deck or porch comprising: placing a plurality of beams spaced distances from each other to form a decking surface having spaces between the beams; and inserting gap seals into the spaces between the beams to seal the spaces and create a deck or porch having an uninterrupted upper surface.
 12. The method of making a deck or porch of claim 11, wherein each of the spaces has a generally I-shaped cross-section.
 13. The method of making a deck or porch of claim 12, wherein each of the gap seals includes a generally I-shaped cross-section that corresponds to said I-shaped cross-section of each of the spaces.
 14. The method of making a deck or porch of claim 13, wherein each of the gap seals further includes edges that are shaped in the form of a shape selected from a group consisting essentially of bull-nose, round, and square.
 15. The method of making a deck or porch of claim 13, wherein said gap seal is a different color than the plurality of beams.
 16. The method of making a deck or porch of claim 11, further comprising precutting ends of the beams so that each of the spaces has a generally I-shaped cross-section. 